I used to never want to go to the gym. I felt so self conscious. It was like every time I went, I thought I could feel everyone’s eyes on me. I was a stranger—the chubby girl encroaching on the space of the beautiful people with the bulging biceps and flat stomachs. The anxiety that came with the feeling of being judged kept me from going out to work out, leaving me with the option of staying at home and therefore acquiring extremely lazy habits.
When I started going to the gym at Towson, I realized that my paranoia was uncalled for. The only time people looked at me was when they were checking to see if a machine was opening up, not to critique my form as I attempted crunches. Sure, there were a lot of skinny pretty people, but there were people in the same boat as I was, too. And nobody was staring at anyone else as they worked out. They were simply focusing on themselves and their own work out.
I ran for the first time in five years! It was so exhilarating!
For years I was afraid of running, too. In eighth grade I dislocated my knee cap, and periodically whenever I tried running it would pop back out. Believe me, not only is it painful, but it sounds gross, and it can be quite embarrassing when you wipe out across the gym floor into the bleachers when it pops out and everyone sees. No, not quite. Very.
This fear was another thing keeping me from being active. But you know what?
No more excuses!
Working out makes me feel better! Instead of feeling bummed out all the time, when I work out, I feel happy and content. Feeling the burn of working out feels good; in fact, I almost like it. It’s pleasing knowing that the burn in my stomach means that the abs buried under there are burrowing their way out.
Work those abs!
To work on helping those beloved muscles toned, I have a few ab exercise I partake in. To start off, I do regular crunches, where I lay on my back and, ya know, crunch. After 30 reps, I then twist my torso to the top half is still level with the ground and my hips and legs are turned to the side. Then, more crunches! 30 reps, then twist to the second side. And what’s a surefire way of being successful with working out? Repetition! That means doing all three positions again, until I’ve completed 3 sets of 30.
Along with those simple crunches, I also do 3 sets of 30 of another variation of crunch. With this workout, I lay flat against the ground and reach back to grab hold of the fence behind the mats. Then, I lift my legs into the air, straight, and bring them back down about a foot above the ground. Three sets of 30 later, I’m finished! But please, breaks are encouraged. This move hurts my lower back if I don’t relax occasionally. And please, don’t hurt yourself!
After abs, it’s time for the delightfulness that we all know as cardio workouts! Usually I go and pedal backwards on the elliptical for 30 minutes. To help pass the time and ignore the occasional cramping in my calves, I do two things. One, I listen to music with faster tempos and pedal in time with the music; that way I don’t let myself slack off if I feel myself starting to get tired. Two, I visualize myself either headed down some beautiful path like I’m not in the gym, or visualize how I want life to be when I’m healthy. Nobody judges you if you close your eyes, as long as you don’t accidently fall off in the process.
Be sure to stay hydrated!
You’ll all be pleased to know that last week I overcame my fear of running when I ran on the treadmill for six minutes for the first time in five years! It felt amazing and rejuvenating—proof that dedication and facing your fears can pay off!
Do you have any exercise tips? Let me know and I’ll try them out! Also, feel free to message me with any private concerns or tips you might have with your own healthy journey. I love talking to people! Till next time, keep moving, drink water, and stay healthy!
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